The new Knox Council, from left: Joe Cossari, Darren Pearce, David Cooper, Karin Orpen, John Mortimore, Peter Lockwood, Nicole Seymour and Tony Holland. Dinsdale Ward representative Adam Gill was absent. Picture Rob Carew
TWO former councillors and two newcomers will be part of the new-look Knox Council after the weekend's local government elections.
And there will be an extra woman after Nicole Seymour won 59 per cent of the vote in Tirhatuan Ward. With former mayor Karin Orpen returning to council, Ms Seymour's win now gives the council two female members.
The closest race was in Baird Ward where former MP and councillor Peter Lockwood defeated Garrie James by just 28 votes after preferences.
Mr James said he would challenge the result by appealing to the Victorian Electoral Commission because he believed Mr Lockwood may have used voters' personal information inappropriately.
Another tough fight unfolded in Friberg Ward where sitting councillor Andrew Walter was unseated by Tony Holland who won on his fourth attempt.
Mr Holland won the seat, after preferences were distributed, with 57.33 per cent of the votes. The result was the reverse of the 2008 election when Mr Holland lost to Mr Walter after preferences.
Karin Orpen won Dobson Ward with 58.26 per cent of the votes after preferences were distributed. She fought off newcomer Gabrielle Verstraete despite the third candidate, David Mutch, directing his preferences to Ms Verstraete. Chandler Ward was also a tight race with incumbent Cr John Mortimore just retaining his seat.
Incumbent Taylor Ward councillor Darren Pearce was returned comfortably after winning almost two-thirds of the votes.
Dinsdale and Collier wards were uncontested, with former mayor Adam Gill and Cr Joe Cossari to again represent their respective wards for the next four years.
The Municipal Association of Victoria's chief executive Rob Spence has called for a review of local council elections after receiving numerous letters from voters concerned about the lack of transparency from candidates.
"We're hoping we'll end up with a review after this election just to make sure that if there are things that we can do better, then we'll do it."
Mr Spence said that there was currently not enough information available for voters.
—with Daniel Tran